Rumours were rife in Ballyhooly following the ‘non-function’ of Daisy the cow, with the initial ‘Spot the Drop’ competition in Ballyhooly community field being postponed in the summer of 1998. Event organisers were having none of it, as Jim Ahern drove the beast to a centre field location to get the novel competition under way, with a considerable 1st prize of £1,500 on offer. However, no need to fret, as 24 minutes and 5 seconds into her second attempt, ‘Daisy started a bowel movement outside the tennis court area on the 21 yard line’.
John O’Keeffe was reportedly ‘on the scene before the stuff even touched the turf’, Daisy’s ‘hit’ being deemed official. A ‘spotometer’ was deemed necessary to adjudicate, as the successful ‘spot’ had not dropped in just one of the plots, but exactly on the line separating two sections.
Following some serious discussion, Denis Beecher, an expert in spotology we’re told, agreed that the first prize would have to be divided – the lucky recipients, both c/o Dennehy’s Carrigtwohill, were John Murphy and Billy Pope.
Cleaning the grotto
Operating on their own initiative, a Nigerian family resident in Watergrasshill were spending their evenings cleaning up the grotto close to where they were living.
Removing weeds and vegetation from around the statue, washing the railings and decorating the area with fresh flowers, the trio of Grace Ndey, Francis Usanga and Mercy Etimuroso, felt the effort would be worthwhile when complete.
Admitting there ‘was a lot of scrubbing involved’, Grace told The Avondhu that the family, as Catholics, ‘should do something to please God and His Mother’. They had been residents in the area for just over one year.
Huge crowds at Mitchelstown Guinness Music Festival
Thumbs up to ‘the big music festival that came courtesy of the makers of the big pint’, as the 1998 edition of the Guinness Musical Festival drew the crowds to Mitchelstown over the August bank holiday weekend.
Headliner Brian Kennedy, turning in a ‘virtuoso performance’, entertained an estimated 10,000 music revellers in New Square. ‘Beat on the Street’ courtesy of local DJ, Pat Ronan, entertained the younger folk on Saturday, along with boy bands Eternity and All2gether.
Although rain threatened to cause a headache for ‘the bleary-eyed organising committee’, all concerts went off without a hitch, gardai reporting ‘no serious incidents’.
Top 100 for The Spinning Wheel
The Spinning Wheel in Castletownroche was announced as one of the 100 most enjoyable hostelries in the country, according to an article in the Sunday Tribune in 1998. One of only three public houses chosen in Munster – the other two named in Kinsale – proprietor Tom Quinlan could feel very proud, with the ‘Castletownroche gem’ a daily focus for travellers through the scenic village.
‘Encampments’ concern raised
Concern was raised by Cllr John Hussey and brought to the attention of the Fermoy town clerk, as to a number of ‘encampments’ which had ‘sprung up inside the UDC boundary’.
A VW camper-style van had ‘taken up residency’ in an amenity area on the banks of the Blackwater, close to the entrance to the leisure centre.
A caravan had ‘established itself’ on Connolly Street, while two more caravans were located on the slipway to the river, close to Brian Boru Square – a designated parking area.
Castletownroche Welcome Home Festival
The 5-day Castletownroche Welcome Home Festival was set to commence, some entertainment highlights included the Wolfe Tones in concert in the marquee for opening night; Queen of the Awbeg, with four ladies vying for the title – Deirdre O’Keeffe (rep. O’Grady’s Bar), Annette Langford (Batterberry’s Bar), Fiona Hickey (The Spinning Wheel) and Thelma O’Brien (The Rockforest Bar); the final of the TP Keenan Songwriting Contest; a glamorous granny competition along with a monster fancy dress parade.
In sport
A Lismore/Ballysaggart combination representing Waterford, took the Munster U16 ladies Community Games volleyball title. The side, captained by Esther Cahill, defeated Clare two sets to nil, 15-9, 15-10.
Ballyporeen Handball Club representative Aidan Supple won two Munster titles in the 60×30 court. In U21 singles he defeated Michael Reidy, Limerick 21-11, 21-8.
While in U21 doubles, partnering with Paul Coleman, Ballina, the duo took Munster glory when easily defeating Michael Reidy and Eddie Clancy (Limerick) 21-7, 21-5.
Putting in one of their best displays of the season, Glenroe intermediate hurlers maintained their intermediate status when defeating neighbouring club, Blackrock in a relegation play-off, held in Kilmallock.
The final scoreline was 1-14 to 3-6, with Michael O’Brien top scorer with 0-7.
